Oracibo.com – Food, Travel, Design and Cooking!

A Man and His Bread

Otherwise, I would be beyond unhappy about missing out on my friend Chris’ amazing baking.

I have been an enormous fan and supporter of Christopher Brown’s many delicious offerings ever since he opened Ecco Il Pane here in Vancouver in the early 1990’s. When that bakery cum restaurant closed their doors it was a sad day indeed and he was sorely missed.

Then one day, a few years ago, surprise, there’s Chris at the farmer’s market we frequent under his “Rise Artisan Bakery” banner! That was a very, very happy day!

Chris and his business partner have recently opened a new venture; Batard Boulangerie and Café Moderne between 24th and 25th on Fraser Street. Part bakery, part cafe with sandwiches, soups and the like along with his delicious breads and amazingly good pastries…the lemon tart, always a favourite of mine has reappeared and something new, a golden, crunchy, caramelized kouign-amann. Cannot say enough about those! The kouign begin as a croissant type dough but oh my…they are out of this world!

The menu has a special “beef dip” …now I am not a fan of beef dip…but coffee crusted, thinly sliced medium rare, tender roast beef in a baguette and a dipping jus that’s the real deal…nothing from a packet here! A little salad on the side and did I enjoy it or what? My lunch companion really liked her black bean soup too! Besides the roast beef dip there is a great sounding shrimp dill remoulade sandwich and a few good looking salads went by on their way to other tables…ah well…next time!

Batard Boulangerie and Café Moderne is a comfortable spot with friendly staff where you can buy the breads by the half or even quarter…a good thing indeed! They have been busy since they opened their doors and you better get there early if you want the kouigin-amann! http://www.batardbakery.com/